Officers found 23 men being held hostage and caught seven human smugglers at a west Phoenix drop house Tuesday. It was the second in one day.
Officers from the multi-agency IIMPACT team went into the home near 107th Avenue and Camelback Road around 1 p.m.
A Department of Public Safety official told ABC15 that detectives had received information that the victims were being being beaten and held for ransom. They called this a 'hostage rescue'.
Five of the 'coyotes' ran when Special Assignment Unit officers went into the home. They were caught.
Inside officers found 23 men and weapons, including a shotgun and handgun.
They found a room that appeared to be used as a 'phone room'; a windowless room with a chair and phone where victims would be taken and forced to make calls to family and friends for more money to be sent, according to the official.
Two of the human smugglers were stopped and taken into custody as officers arrived at the home.
The DPS official said it appeared the home had been used for some time as the inside was 'pretty trashed' inside.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will take custody of the alleged immigrants for interviews and processing.
